Spin Precession in Inertial and Gravitational Fields

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin precesses under inertial and gravitational influences, analyzing classical and quantum effects, and clarifying the relationship between inertial and gravitational spin-orbit couplings within accelerated frames and Schwarzschild spacetime.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of inertial and gravitational spin-orbit couplings, emphasizing their classical and quantum aspects and their relation through Einstein's equivalence principle.

Findings

Spin precession depends on acceleration and gravitational fields.

Inertial and gravitational spin-orbit couplings are closely related.

Quantum effects of spin precession are characterized in curved spacetime.

Abstract

We discuss the motion of spin in inertial and gravitational fields. The coupling of spin with rotation and the gravitomagnetic field has already been extensively studied; therefore, we focus here on the inertial and gravitational spin-orbit couplings. In particular, we investigate the classical and quantum aspects of spin precession and spin-orbit coupling in an arbitrary translationally accelerated frame of reference as well as the exterior Schwarzschild spacetime. Moreover, in connection with Einstein's principle of equivalence, we clarify the relation between the inertial and gravitational spin-orbit couplings.